Helping your employees avoid work burnout isn’t just good for morale, it’s also good for your organization’s bottom line. Overwork or stress leading to physical and mental exhaustion can produce disengaged workers, who will start looking for other jobs. And staff turnover can come with a high price, especially when a company has earned a reputation as a tough place to work.

How damaging can worker burnout be? Surveys show that 96% of managers said their team members are experiencing some level of burnout. The top five reasons, according to managers, their employees experience work burnout are:

1. Unmanageable Workloads
2. Career Stagnation
3. Constant Interruptions
4. Toxic Culture
5. Dated Technology

However, employees were also reviewed in those surveys to compare the mindset and reasons on both sides of the coin, and discovered the top five reasons why workers experience burnout:

1. Constant Interruptions
2. Career Stagnation
3. Unmanageable Workload
4. Toxic Culture 
5. Dated Technology

To ensure your employees are happy, and you are not experiencing a high rate of employee turnover, here are some tips to help you prevent employee burnout.

Role Reassessment
Make sure your employees are in positions that suit their strengths and interests, and provide them with clearly defined roles and expectations. Taking the time to cover those steps will help ensure workers don’t become frustrated laboring at tasks they’re not well-suited for. Also, be sure to communicate with your team on a regular basis and notify them when priorities change. Including employees in the planning process allows them to become invested in a project’s success, which reinforces their value to the organization.

Be Realistic
Take a step back and ask yourself some questions. Are your employees tackling doable workloads? Does everyone have all the resources and information they need to handle their projects? One fast path to burnout is to consistently dole out overly ambitious or unclear assignments that even the most skilled professional would have trouble completing.

Support and Exercise Work-Life Balance
Employees who like their jobs consistently cite work-life balance as one of the most valuable aspects of their organization’s culture. Respecting the obligations and interests that occupy workers outside of the office helps prevent burnout at work. When possible, consider offering alternative working arrangements, such as telecommuting, to help your employees juggle personal and professional responsibilities. Remind both remote and on-site employees to take care of themselves. Unrelenting stress doesn’t exactly fuel happiness or efficiency. Encourage your team to take periodic breaks to go for a walk or simply step outside for some fresh air. Exercising that advice yourself will also show your employees you take your commitment seriously.

Recognition
Feeling appreciated and valued can make difficult workloads easier to perform. A competitive salary is the most popular and critical key to keeping employees happy. And in today’s employment market, your ability to retain talent is tied closely to the salary, benefits, and perks you provide. Also, remember that verbal recognition can go a long way, preventing burnout. Offering appreciation can be as simple as a mention at a staff meeting or as involved as a nomination of your team for internal and external awards. If they do something well, take notice. 

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